The Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) has held the 5th Edition of the Women in TVET Conference 2026, under the theme “Give to Gain A Powerful Call to Action,” bringing together policymakers, development partners, industry leaders, educators and women professionals to promote gender inclusion and strengthen women’s participation in technical and vocational education and training.
The conference served as a platform for stakeholders to examine strategies for expanding opportunities for women and girls within the TVET sector, which continues to be viewed as a critical pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
In a welcome address, a Deputy Director-General in charge of Corporate Services at CTVET reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women and girls within technical and vocational education.
The Deputy Director-General encouraged young women to pursue careers based on their talents and aspirations rather than societal stereotypes, describing TVET as a critical pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
Greetings were also conveyed on behalf of the Director-General of CTVET, who was unable to attend as he was leading Ghana’s delegation at the WorldSkills International Competition in China.
Minister Stresses Deliberate Investment in Women’s Skills
The keynote address was delivered on behalf of Hon. Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, by the Director of the Department of Gender at the Ministry.
The address emphasised the need for deliberate investment in education, mentorship, leadership development and skills training for women and girls.
“Their full participation in technical and vocational fields is essential to Ghana’s industrial growth and socio-economic transformation.”
Hon. Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection
The Minister’s address further highlighted government’s commitment to advancing gender equality through the Revised National Gender Policy 2025–2034 and the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, positioning these policy instruments as central to efforts aimed at closing gender gaps within technical and vocational fields.
Remarks From Partner Organisations
The conference also featured remarks from representatives of partner organisations supporting women’s advancement within the TVET space, alongside a goodwill message delivered by an Assistant Director of the Collateral Registry Department at the Bank of Ghana, who represented the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana at the event.
These contributions underscored the breadth of institutional support behind the conference, drawing participation from the private sector, civil society organisations focused on girls’ education, and funding bodies supporting infrastructure development within the TVET sector.
Other highlights of the programme included success story presentations from women who have built careers within technical fields, a musical performance, and an address from the Ministry of Education delivered by a Principal Programmes Officer for Inclusive Education.
The conference also featured an exhibition showcasing innovation and excellence within the TVET sector, offering participants a firsthand look at projects and initiatives driven by women within the field.
Spotlighting Women in Technical Professions
A key feature of the conference was the Women in TVET Spotlight session, which celebrated outstanding women making strides in technical professions traditionally dominated by men.
Through documentary presentations and personal reflections, women working in fields such as automotive mechanics, agriculture and mechanical vehicle engineering shared their experiences and career journeys.
“Their stories continue to inspire more young women to pursue careers in fields traditionally dominated by men.”
Hon. Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection
These firsthand accounts offered conference participants practical insight into the challenges and opportunities associated with pursuing technical careers as women, reinforcing the conference’s broader goal of normalising women’s presence within these professional spaces.
Call For Continued Collaboration
The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration among government, industry and development partners in creating an enabling environment for women and girls to acquire relevant skills, access economic opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s broader development agenda.
By bringing together voices from government, the financial sector, civil society and industry, the conference reflected a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to addressing gender disparities within technical and vocational education, an area increasingly recognised as central to Ghana’s industrialisation and economic transformation goals.
As the 5th Edition of the Women in TVET Conference concludes, attention will likely turn to how the commitments reaffirmed during the event, spanning policy implementation, mentorship programmes and skills investment, translate into measurable improvements in women’s participation across Ghana’s technical and vocational education landscape in the years ahead.
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